M.Goodall, A.Tagg British Aircraft before the Great War (Schiffer)

Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing

ALDRITT monoplane (Aldritt's Garage, Portlaiose, Ireland)

This Bleriot type monoplane was built by the Aldritts in 1912, but does not seem to have been very successful. The three-cylinder engine was also designed and built by the Aldritts, but was rather heavy. The main wing spars were made of large diameter bamboo poles, possibly from a local market garden. The monoplane took off and flew several hundred yards, but the excessive weight caused it to make a very heavy landing. The engine was unfortunately sent to a scrap yard by mistake but this very early monoplane still exists, minus engine, as an exhibit at Filching Manor Motor Museum, near Polegate, Sussex.